Scuti Stars Research Articles

Characterizing the features of the low-amplitude peaks in delta Scuti stars with TESS

Abstract The presence of low-amplitude peaks over the noise in the power spectra of δ Scuti stars is frequently disregarded. These seemingly insignificant peaks, collectively referred to as grass, might contain valuable information about the origin of these stars and the reasons behind the occurrence or absence of a plateau. It is crucial to systematically parameterize the grass phenomenon throughout a comprehensive sample that covers the entire δ Scuti star parameter range. Thus, we conduct a quantitative study of long-duration, high-duty-cycle TESS light curves, leading to improved detection methods for plateaus and a deeper understanding of their nature. This approach minimizes the impact of unresolved peaks caused by mode variations over time. Additionally, we present appropriate analysis techniques to mitigate window effects and identify and eliminate spurious peaks. We demonstrate here that the grass can be effectively parameterized based on peak density. With such parameterization two distinct regimes are found: the sparse grass regime, characterized by low peak density and the absence of a plateau in the power spectra, and the dense grass regime, characterized by high peak densities and the presence of an observable plateau. Our study is the first rigorous quantification of the emergence of such a plateau in the power spectra of δ Scuti stars. Since the grass might be related with fractality, mode variability, and stellar rotation rate, its parameterization opens a new way to analyze these stars.

Validating Gaia DR3 Pulsating Variable Classifications with TESS. II. 360+ Eclipsing Binaries with δ Scuti and γ Doradus Components

A comprehensive analysis of 75,369 stars from Gaia DR3 has led to the serendipitous discovery of 380 eclipsing binaries featuring δ Scuti and γ Doradus pulsators, 45 eclipsing binaries exhibiting rotational variability, and 8 new RR Lyrae stars. Moreover, this study has confirmed 12,145 δ Scuti stars (including 8710 new) and 8192 γ Doradus stars (including 7531 new). These findings substantially expand the existing catalogs of δ Scuti and γ Doradus stars, now encompassing 98,968 and 19,466 stars, respectively, providing a valuable resource for future studies. The remarkable number of newly identified pulsating binaries underscores the significance of this project in validating Gaia variables.

The δ Scuti stars of the Cep–Her Complex – I. Pulsator fraction, rotation, asteroseismic large spacings, and the νmax relation

ABSTRACT We identify delta Scuti ($\delta$ Sct) pulsators amongst members of the recently discovered Cep–Her Complex using light curves from the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS). We use Gaia colours and magnitudes to isolate a subsample of provisional Cep–Her members that are located in a narrow band on the colour–magnitude diagram compatible with the zero-age main sequence. The $\delta$ Sct pulsator fraction amongst these stars peaks at 100 per cent and we describe a trend of higher pulsator fractions for younger stellar associations. We use four methods to measure the frequency of maximum amplitude or power, $\nu _{\rm max}$, to minimize methodological bias, and we demonstrate their sound performance. The $\nu _{\rm max}$ measurements display a correlation with effective temperature, but with a scatter that is too large for the relation to be useful. We find two ridges in the $\nu _{\rm max}$–$T_{\rm eff}$ diagram, one of which appears to be the result of rapid rotation causing stars to pulsate in low-order modes. We measure the $\nu _{\rm max}$ values of $\delta$ Sct stars in four other clusters or associations of similar age (Trumpler 10, the Pleiades, NGC 2516, and Praesepe) and find similar behaviour with $T_{\rm eff}$. Using échelle diagrams, we measure the asteroseismic large spacing, $\Delta \nu$, for 70 stars, and find a correlation between $\Delta \nu$, rotation, and luminosity that allows rapid rotators seen at low inclinations to be distinguished from slow rotators. We find that rapid rotators are more likely than slow rotators to pulsate, but they do so with less regular pulsation patterns. We also investigate the reliability of Gaia’s vbroad measurement for A-type stars, finding that it is mostly accurate but underestimates $v\sin i$ for slow rotators ($v\sin i \lt 50$ km s−1) by 10–15 per cent.

New Pulsating Variable Stars and Eclipsing Binaries Around BL Cam* *Dedicated to my wife Jingyun Zhang.

Based on publicly available Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite data, I conducted a regional survey around the SX Phe star BL Cam, spanning a radius of two degrees. This research identified 285 new variables including: 96 δ Scuti stars, 56 γ Doradus stars, 17 eclipsing binary systems with three exhibiting pulsating or rotating components, 3 rotating ellipsoidal variable stars, among others. No new SX Phe stars were identified.

A New Catalog of 100,000 Variable TESS A-F Stars Reveals a Correlation between δ Scuti Pulsator Fraction and Stellar Rotation

δ Scuti variables are found at the intersection of the classical instability strip and the main sequence on the Hertzsprung–Russell diagram. With space-based photometry providing millions of light curves of A-F type stars, we can now probe the occurrence rate of δ Scuti pulsations in detail. Using the 30 minutes cadence light curves from NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite's first 26 sectors, we identify variability in 103,810 stars within 5–24 cycles per day down to a magnitude of T = 11.25. We fit the period–luminosity relation of the fundamental radial mode for δ Scuti stars in the Gaia G band, allowing us to distinguish classical pulsators from contaminants for a subset of 39,367 stars. Out of this subset, over 15,918 are found on or above the expected period–luminosity relation. We derive an empirical red edge to the classical instability strip using Gaia photometry. The center where the pulsator fraction peaks at 50%–70%, combined with the red edge, agrees well with previous work in the Kepler field. While many variable sources are found below the period–luminosity relation, over 85% of sources inside of the classical instability strip derived in this work are consistent with being δ Scuti stars. The remaining 15% of variables within the instability strip are likely hybrid or γ Doradus pulsators. Finally, we discover strong evidence for a correlation between pulsator fraction and spectral line broadening from the Radial Velocity Spectrometer on board the Gaia spacecraft, confirming that rotation has a role in driving pulsations in δ Scuti stars.

Discovery of 226 [formula omitted] Scuti and [formula omitted] Doradus Stars near NGC 6871 with TESS

We present the discovery of 269 pulsating variable stars of δ Scuti, γ Doradus, and Maia types in the vicinity of the open cluster NGC 6871, using data from the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS). Our small-scale regional survey centered on the δ Scuti star V1821 Cyg in the open cluster NGC 6871, covering a radius of one degree. The results include a remarkable total of 1512 newly classified variable stars, comprising the following categories: 105 δ Scuti stars, 121 γ Doradus stars, 50 Maia variables, 198 eclipsing binary systems, with 12 exhibiting pulsating or rotating components, 500+ rotating variable stars, and dozens of other types. Out of 1512 newly discovered variable stars, 108 are confirmed members of NGC 6871 with a membership probability exceeding 50%. Notably, dedicated Fourier analyses were applied to eight representative stars from the newly discovered variables. Among these, one star exhibits a rich and complex pulsation spectrum characterized by amplitude variations in dominant pulsations. To contextualize the new pulsators, we plotted them in the Hertzsprung–Russell diagrams alongside the largest known group of class member stars. Surprisingly, both δ Scuti and γ Doradus stars occupy nearly the same region in the diagrams, hinting at a potential unified pulsation mechanism. This study contributes valuable insights into the variability census of NGC 6871 and sheds light on the pulsation behavior of different stellar types. Further investigations into the physical properties and evolutionary status of these stars are warranted.

Pulsation modes of three Delta Scuti stars using Kepler project data: KIC3429637, KIC10451090, KIC2987660

We have analyzed the light curves of three δ Scuti stars that were observed by the Kepler Space Telescope. Data collected by the Kepler space telescope, as well as analysis of the light curve of each star and the use of online databases, have been utilized to achieve the objectives of this project. Data has been collected through Kepler's main mission. We compare both data that we get from the Lightkurve package of Python and the KASOC online data centre to verify the data. We select the necessary data like flux, observation date, and the spectral type of the stars. By investigating various types of pulsating variable stars, three Delta Scuti stars have been selected due to their flux, pulsating type, etc. It is observed that most of these stars are pulsating in the p-modes. However, the selected stars pulsate in both p-modes and (possibly) g-modes. We select these stars, due to the lack of articles about them. Furthermore, some physical properties of these stars are deduced from their light curves. In summary, the results of this study indicate that the stars KIC3429637 and KIC10451090 are pulsating only in p-modes, while KIC2987660 is pulsating both in p-modes and g-modes.

Short-period Variables in TESS Full-frame Image Light Curves Identified via Convolutional Neural Networks

The Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) mission measured light from stars in ∼85% of the sky throughout its 2 yr primary mission, resulting in millions of TESS 30-minute-cadence light curves to analyze in the search for transiting exoplanets. To search this vast data set, we aim to provide an approach that is computationally efficient, produces accurate predictions, and minimizes the required human search effort. We present a convolutional neural network that we train to identify short-period variables. To make a prediction for a given light curve, our network requires no prior target parameters identified using other methods. Our network performs inference on a TESS 30-minute-cadence light curve in ∼5 ms on a single GPU, enabling large-scale archival searches. We present a collection of 14,156 short-period variables identified by our network. The majority of our identified variables fall into two prominent populations, one of close-orbit main-sequence binaries and another of δ Scuti stars. Our neural network model and related code are additionally provided as open-source code for public use and extension.

Exploring the unexpected: Disharmonized harmonic pulsation modes in high-amplitude δ Scuti stars

Harmonics are a ubiquitous feature across various pulsating stars. They are traditionally viewed as mere replicas of the independent primary pulsation modes and have thus been excluded from asteroseismological models. Recent research, however, has uncovered a significant discrepancy: in high-amplitude δ Scuti (HADS) stars, harmonics exhibit uncorrelated variations in amplitude and frequency relative to their independent primary pulsation modes. The nature of these disharmonized harmonics is a question of critical importance. In our study we analysed five triple-mode HADS stars observed by the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) and discovered some pervasive patterns of disharmonized harmonics in both the fundamental (f0) and first overtone (f1) pulsation modes. Intriguingly, through an in-depth frequency interaction analysis of V1393 Cen, we identified 2f1 as an independent pulsation mode, distinct from f1, and identified it as the progenitor of the frequency variations observed in 3f1, 4f1, 5f1, and 6f1. Similar behaviour can be found in DO CMi and GSC 06047-00749, in which 2f1 and 3f1 are the independent pulsation modes, respectively. Notably, we found an interesting pattern when decomposing the harmonics that might suggest a generation process of harmonics. These findings serve as a new window on the research of harmonics, which remains a hidden corner of contemporary asteroseismology.

North-PHASE: studying periodicity, hot spots, accretion stability, and early evolution in young stars in the Northern hemisphere

ABSTRACT We present the overview and first results from the North-PHASE Legacy Survey, which follows six young clusters for five years, using the 2 deg$^2$ FoV of the JAST80 telescope from the Javalambre Observatory (Spain). North-PHASE investigates stellar variability on time-scales from days to years for thousands of young stars distributed over entire clusters. This allows us to find new YSO, characterize accretion, and study inner disc evolution within the cluster context. Each region (Tr 37, Cep OB3, IC 5070, IC 348, NGC 2264, and NGC 1333) is observed in six filters (SDSS griz, u band, and J0660, which covers H$\alpha$), detecting cluster members as well as field variable stars. Tr 37 is used to prove feasibility and optimize the variability analysis techniques. In Tr 37, variability reveals 50 new YSO, most of them proper motion outliers. North-PHASE independently confirms the youth of astrometric members, efficiently distinguishes accreting and non-accreting stars, reveals the extent of the cluster populations along Tr37/IC 1396 bright rims, and detects variability resulting from rotation, dips, and irregular bursts. The proper motion outliers unveil a more complex star formation history than inferred from Gaia alone, and variability highlights previously hidden proper motion deviations in the surrounding clouds. We also find that non-YSO variables identified by North-PHASE cover a different variability parameter space and include long-period variables, eclipsing binaries, RR Lyr, and $\delta$ Scuti stars. These early results also emphasize the power of variability to complete the picture of star formation where it is missed by astrometry.

Statistical analysis of asteroseismic indices and stellar parameters of TESS-observed δ Scuti stars

Context. Over the last few years, δ Scuti stars have been at the center of the attention of the asteroseismology community thanks to the derivation of seismic indices connected to stellar parameters. The statistical analysis of the wealth of data offered by a large space survey such as the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS), the identification of new δ Scuti stars, and the correlation between asteroseismic indices and stellar parameters in the resulting sample are therefore of utmost interest. Aims. The goal of our study is to analyze the statistical properties of stellar parameters and characterize the asteroseismic indices of δ Scuti stars observed in TESS cycle 4. Methods. We used TESS 2 min cadence photometric data and the corresponding Fourier transform to identify δ Scuti stars. The asteroseismic indices for these stars were determined using an empirical relation and a 2D autocorrelation method. Results. We discovered 765 δ Scuti stars from the data obtained by the TESS mission, from Sectors 40–55, corresponding to cycle 4 and observed with a 2 min cadence. Of these stars, 179 δ Scuti stars have low-resolution spectral parameters from LAMOST. We first analyzed the relation between pulsation and stellar parameters from TESS observations and the distribution of δ Scuti stars with two different stellar parameters, TESS Input Catalog (TIC) and Large Sky Area Multi-Object Fiber Spectroscopic Telescope (LAMOST), within the classical instability strip. Most of the stars lie within the instability strip and follow the period-luminosity relation of δ Scuti stars. Additionally, the majority of the stars exhibit pulsation properties consistent with those expected for δ Scuti stars, including periods falling within the typical range, amplitudes at the millimagnitude level, and fundamental parameters such as spectral type, effective temperature, log g, and luminosity that match the characteristics of δ Scuti stars. This confirms the reliability of the δ Scuti stars we have identified. We subsequently obtained the large frequency separation (∆ν), vmax, and ν(Amax) for 179 δ Scuti stars with LAMOST parameters by using an empirical relation and a 2D autocorrelation method, and obtained the relations between these asteroseismic indices. These stars will provide significant support for a deeper study of the internal structure and evolution of stars.

The FUV Fluxes of A-type Star Members of the Hyades

The International Ultraviolet Explorer database has been searched for the FUV spectra of the A stars which are members of the Hyades. Eight out of 16 confirmed members of the Hyades have FUV absolute fluxes obtained with the SWP camera through the large aperture. The observed sharp decrease of the FUV fluxes from spectral type A2 to A9 is essentially a temperature effect. The FUV flux of the A7 IV star HD 28310, a δ Scuti star, is clearly variable.

Validating Gaia DR3 Pulsating Variable Classifications with TESS: Building Reliable δ Scuti and γ Doradus Stars Catalogs (In Progress)*

Abstract Gaia DR3 revealed 748,058 pulsating variable stars of mixed DSCT∣GDOR∣SXPHE types. This project undertakes a comprehensive examination to validate and distinguish these stars using Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite data. Aiming for reliable catalogs of bona fide δ Scuti and γ Doradus stars, I have validated 1715 δ Scuti stars, 1403 γ Doradus stars, and identified 260 eclipsing binaries, one RR Lyrae star, and 460+ rotating variables from an initial sample of 16,690 objects. Notably, 15 of the newfound eclipsing binaries harbor pulsating γ Doradus components.

Resolving the pulsation contents of 13 [formula omitted] Scuti stars with TESS and K2

Using the TESS and Kepler K2 light curve archives, I have reanalyzed 13 known δ Scuti stars. AD Ari is now reclassified as a rotating ellipsoidal binary variable. EX Cnc and HD 73712 are reclassified as hybrid δ Sct-γ Dor pulsators. EX Cnc turns out to be an enticing asteroseismic target because of its three distinct groups of pulsation frequencies. The strong beating caused by two close frequencies is present in the star CD-54 7154. More than 71 pulsation frequencies were resolved for ι Boo and IT Dra with high significant levels, while V1821 Cyg, V2238 Cyg, BR Cnc, BU Cnc, and BV Cnc pulsate with a few dozen frequencies. In particular, K2 data revealed a significantly richer pulsational spectrum for the two δ Scuti stars BU Cnc and BV Cnc from six to 26. Unlike the other 12 stars, BN Cnc shows the simplest pulsation pattern. With high-precision and long-term space-based photometry, we are able to discern the pulsational contents of these stars more clearly and enhance our knowledge of them. This reanalysis using TESS and Kepler K2 data highlights the diversity of pulsational behavior among δ Scuti stars and the value of long-duration, high-precision photometry. Further asteroseismic modeling of these stars, particularly EX Cnc with its distinct frequency groups, promises to refine our understanding of their internal structures and pulsational mechanisms.

Two High-amplitude δ Scuti–γ Doradus Hybrids Constrained by the Radial Fundamental p and Equally Spaced g Modes

Based on 2 minutes cadence TESS data, we investigate pulsations of TIC 65138566 and TIC 139729335 and discover them to be two new high-amplitude δ Scuti stars with equally spaced g modes. We recognize the radial fundamental mode f 1 = 18.3334 c d−1 and the first overtone f 3 = 23.6429 c d−1 for TIC 65138566, and identify the highest peak f 1 = 19.0955 c d−1 as the radial fundamental mode for TIC 139729335. For g modes, both stars display a regular period spacing of 2413 s. Through detailed seismological analysis, we deduce that these period-spacing patterns correspond to modes with ℓ = 1. Moreover, our analysis reveals that with increases in masses and metallicities, the star should display a higher degree of evolution to match a specific period spacing Π0. Conversely, the star should have a lower extent of evolution to match the radial fundamental mode. These two contradictory behaviors allow us to precisely obtain stellar physical parameters. TIC 65138566 and TIC 139729335 are determined to be two main-sequence stars that have almost the same range of masses and metallicities, with M = 1.36 ± 0.06 M ⊙ and Z = 0.005 ± 0.002. The hydrogen abundance in the core of TIC 65138566 is estimated to be about 0.28, while TIC 139729335 has a slightly higher value of around 0.31. Finally, we suggest that the high-amplitude δ Scuti–γ Doradus star TIC 308396022 is a main-sequence star with M = 1.54 ± 0.08 M ⊙, Z = 0.007 ± 0.001, and X c = 0.18 ± 0.02.

Frequency and photometric analysis of the δ Scuti stars SDSS J231559.32 + 595654.1 and ASAS J080529-1357.5

We carried out multi-bandpass BVRI CCD photometric observations for the two δ Scuti stars SDSS J231559.32 + 595654.1 (SDSS23 + 59) and ASAS J080529-1357.5 (ASAS08-13) at Kottamia Astronomical Observatory (KAO). The star SDSS23 + 59 has δ Scuti-type with a low amplitude pulsating variable, and the star ASAS08-13 is classified as a high amplitude δ Scuti-type. The time-series light curve data for each star was analyzed using the discrete Fourier transform (DFT), which revealed a dominant fundamental mode (f0) of oscillation and associated harmonics. The photometric analysis of the two stars suggests SDSS23 + 59 is a star that can pulsate in a short period mode (P = 0.111314d ± 0.000012) with low amplitude (0.101–0.09), and the star ASAS08-13 can pulsate in a short period mode (P = 0.10052247 ± 0.00000281) with high amplitude (0.186–0.168 mag). The nonradial modes for SDSS23 + 59 and radial modes for ASAS08-13 are detected. We calculated new times of maximum light for both stars and combined them with those from other sources (ZTF and AAVSO) to update their corresponding linear ephemerides. The O − C diagram gives us a primary indication that the period of the star is increasing at the rate of (1/P) dP/dt = 3.410(0.006)×10 -10 yr−1 and 2.7321(0.0092)x10-6 yr−1 for SDSS23 + 59 and ASAS08-13 respectively. The physical parameters are calculated, and the positions of the stars on the P-Teff, M−L, M−R, and Teff-log g are investigated.

Minute-Cadence Observations of the LAMOST Fields with the TMTS: V. Machine Learning Classification of TMTS Catalogues of Periodic Variable Stars

Abstract Periodic variables are always of great scientific interest in astrophysics. Thanks to the rapid advancement of modern large-scale time-domain surveys, the number of reported variable stars has experienced substantial growth for several decades, which significantly deepened our comprehension of stellar structure and binary evolution. The Tsinghua University-Ma Huateng Telescopes for Survey (TMTS) has started to monitor the LAMOST sky areas since 2020, with a cadence of 1 minute. During the period from 2020 to 2022, this survey has resulted in densely sampled light curves for ~30,000 variables of the maximum powers in the Lomb-Scargle periodogram above the 5σ threshold. In this paper, we classified 11,638 variable stars into 6 main types using XGBoost and Random Forest classifiers with accuracies of 98.83% and 98.73%, respectively. Among them, 5301 (45.55%) variables are newly discovered, primarily consisting of δ Scuti stars, demonstrating the capability of TMTS in searching for short-period variables. We cross-matched the catalogue with Gaia’s second Data Release (DR2) and LAMOST’s seventh Data Release (DR7) to obtain important physical parameters of the variables. We identified 5504 δ Scuti stars (including 4876 typical δ Scuti stars and 628 high-amplitude δ Scuti stars), 5899 eclipsing binaries (including EA-, EB- and EW-type) and 226 candidates of RS Canum Venaticorum. Leveraging the metal abundance data provided by LAMOST and the Galactic latitude, we discovered 8 candidates of SX Phe stars within the class of ”δ Scuti stars”. Moreover, with the help of Gaia color-magnitude diagram, we identified 9 ZZ ceti stars.

Hidden Companions to Intermediate-mass Stars. XV. Discovery of a 1.2M ⊙, 8.4 au Companion to the δ Scuti star HIP 41375 = 2 Hydrae* *Based on observations collected at the European Southern Observatory, Chile, Program ID 110.241W.001.

2 Hydrae is a nearby M Aa = 1.66M ⊙ δ Scuti star with strong astrometric evidence for a close companion in addition to its known M B = 0.20M ⊙ M dwarf companion at 530 au. Here we report on a VLTI/GRAVITY near-infrared interferometric observation that reveals the close companion to be a M Ab = 1.18M ⊙ star at a projected separation ρ = 168 mas ↔ 8.4 au. This triple system is a potential progenitor for a double white dwarf binary under the dynamical influence of an outer M dwarf companion with a low enough hierarchy for potentially interesting dynamical effects.

Unveiling the intricate symphony of nonlinear pulsation mode interactions in high-amplitude δ Scuti stars

Information on the interiors of stars can be gleaned from their pulsations. Pulsation modes, which are determined by the internal state and structure of a star, are typically considered stable over short timescales. These independent pulsation modes have been used in asteroseismology to determine the interior structures of stars. Here, we report the discovery of peculiar pulsation mode interactions in the high-amplitude δ Scuti star KIC 6382916 (J19480292+4146558) that challenge the reliability of independent pulsation modes as indicators of a star’s internal structure. Through analysis of archival data, we find distinct variations in the amplitudes and frequencies of three independent pulsation modes and their harmonics and combinations over approximately 20 days. These variations can reach amplitudes of about 140% and frequency variations of about 12%. Correlation analysis of amplitude and frequency variations reveal additional pulsation mode interaction details and patterns. Notably, our findings regarding the phenomena related to the harmonics of independent pulsation modes challenge the traditional understanding in this area. These discoveries serve as cornerstones for future research and advance nonlinear asteroseismology.

Period–Luminosity Relationship for δ Scuti Stars Revisited

The Gaia DR3 parallax approach was used to estimate the absolute parameters of 2375 δ Scuti stars from the ASAS catalog. The selected stars have a variety of observational characteristics, with a higher than 80% probability of being δ Scuti stars. We have displayed all the stars in the Hertzsprung–Russell diagram along with the δ Scuti instability strip, the Zero Age Main Sequence and the Terminal Age Main Sequence. Then, we determined which fundamental and overtone modes each star belongs to using pulsation constant (Q) calculations. In addition, we evaluated the parameters in the Q calculation equation using three machine learning methods, which showed that surface gravity and temperature have the greatest effect on its calculation. The Period–Luminosity (P-L) relationship of the δ Scuti stars was also revisited. Eventually, using least squares linear regression, we made four linear fits for fundamental and overtone modes and updated their relationships.